Becahi Defense Stifles Zephyrs 24-0 Scholastic Football

September 15, 1985|by GARY R. BLOCKUS, The Morning Call

Bethlehem Catholic used a stifling defense to hand Whitehall a season- opening shutout and exploded on a few key plays to spell the difference in the Golden Hawks big 24-0 East Penn Conference win over the Zephyrs last night.

Almost 5,000 people gathered at Bethlehem School District Stadium to watch the Hawks go to work. Becahi stunned the EPC last week by defeating Liberty, and last night's match up proved the Hawks' defense is for real.

"They whupped us on the line," admitted Whitehall coach Joe Gerencser, whose clubs are noted for the three yards and a cloud of dust type game. "We're green on the offensive line and it showed."

If the Becahi defensive line was busy stopping Whitehall, the Hawks offense was looking for a chance to capitalize. Becahi got its first break following a Whitehall punt at the start of the second quarter.

After Rich Guman was stopped for a two yard gain at his own 29, quarterback Joe Shunk dropped back and hit wide receiver Jon Pinckney on a crossing pattern to the left side line. Pinckney caught the ball at the Whitehall 35 and streaked down the sideline passed diving defender Gary Easton to score with 8:53 left in the first half.

Pinckney was outstanding when he got the ball. He caught three passes for 100 yards and was the evening's biggest yardage producer.

Becahi had the fake extra-point on, and Edwin Colon rambled toward the left and crossed the goal line to make it 8-0 for all the scoring that was needed.

"They've improved immensely on defense," offered a smiling Bob Stem, the Golden Hawks head coach. "We knew we had to improve defensively. We improved 120 percent," he exclaimed.

"The kids hit hard and tackled when they had to. Kevin Hudak (a big 6-5, 220-pound tackle) did an outstanding job. He ran down people from behind. He's got to be the best tackle in the East Penn Conference."

Also doing the job on the defensive front for the Hawks were Rich Heffernan, Andrew Waldron, Mark Chladney and Bob McCarthy.

The win ups the Hawks to 2-0 in the EPC, and firmly entrenches them as the team to beat down the stretch. Last night's game was an important one, but Stem doesn't think his squad has reached its potential.

"It could be fortunate that people catch us early," he explained. "We're going to improve. The kids know they have to. That's the nice thing about the kids, they realize they have to improve."

The physical Hawks upped the score to 11-0 with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter on Greg Sommer's 30 yard field goal after a 48 yard drive stalled at the Whitehall 12.

Whitehall's Tim Fahringer intercepted at his own 20 to stop a Becahi drive late in the quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Dwight Adams stepped in front of a Beidleman pass and returned it 20 yards for a score with just :10 seconds left in the period to make the it 17-0.

Becahi got its final touchdown with 18 seconds left in the game when third string quarterback Lock Jennings started to option left, reversed his field behind the line and raced into the end zone.

Whitehall was repeatedly hurt by poor field position. The Zephyrs first half possessions began at their own 10 (after fumbling the opening kick off), their own 11, their own 38, and later at their own six.

The Zephyrs made it past midfield just three times, with the deepest penetration to the Becahi 16 in the fourth quarter. A holding call ended that threat. Whitehall made to the Hawks 28 in the opening half, but Beidleman's pass protection broke down on fourth down and there was no gain.